Mary Kate Stovall-Tapley's Obituary
Mary Kate Stovall-Tapley was born December 13, 1921 to the late Estella Billingsley Sanders and the late TimSanders, Sr. in Uniontown, Perry County, Alabama. She departed this life on Thursday, April 25, 2024. She waslovingly married to Turner Stovall and together they had two daughters, Kathleen and Audrey. After Turner'spassing, she found love again and married Rayford Tapley. She was preceded in death by her parents, bothhusbands, one sister, Ethel Lapsley and three brothers, Chester Sanders, Tim Sanders, Jr., and Fred Sanders.At an early age, she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior, joining Woodlawn Baptist Church inUniontown, AL. She remained there until her move to Hurtsboro, Al where she became a member of RossChapel A.M.E. Zion Church. Mrs. Stovall-Tapley served as a Sunday school teacher and the Varick ChristianEndeavor (VCE) advisor, mentoring the youth, as was her passion. Mrs. Stovall-Tapley credits her daughterAudrey, with helping her make the decision to become a Seventh-day Adventist. After much research andstudy she made the move and joined Christ is the Answer SDA Church in Hurtboro, AL. She served as a faithfulmember until her health declined, and subsequently her death.She attended a one teacher school, known as Hinton Hall, which taught grades one through six. She was thentransferred to a boarding school, Lincoln Normal in Marion, Alabama. After graduating from Lincoln NormalSchool, she attended summer school and taught during the winter months until she earned her Bachelors ofScience degree in Elementary Education from Alabama State College (now Alabama State University) in 1949and 1955 respectively. She began teaching in the Perry County School System from 1943 until 1951 when sheaccepted the position of teacher at the Russell County Training School, located in Hurtsboro, Alabama. Shebecame the librarian there and continued to further her education by receiving her Master's Degree in LibraryScience from Atlanta University in 1969. She retired from the Russell County School System in 1976 afterserving 25 years and entered the political arena.In 1976, Mrs. Stovall-Tapley was elected as council woman and served two four-year terms. In 1984, shebecame the first black female to be elected as Mayor of the Town of Hurtsboro, Alabama and consequentlyalso became the first black female to become a mayor in the State of Alabama. She served from 1984 until2000, a total of four, four year terms. During her tenure she was an active member of numerous political, civicand religious committees and organizations, such as: National Conference of Black Mayors, AlabamaDemocratic Committee, Alabama League of Municipalities, Central Alabama Comprehensive Health Board ofDirectors, Habitat for Humanity, Russell County Chamber of Commerce, Lee County Agency on Aging,Southern Union Conference SDA Executive Committee, Hurtsboro Ladies Auxiliary, and East Alabama FuneralDirectors Association. She also received numerous awards. Some of her most cherished and distinguishedawards and honors include: 2009 Russell County Commission Proclamation Celebrating Black History, 2009Spirit of Marion Honoree - Alabama State University, 1996 Distinguished Service Award - Alabama League ofMunicipalities, 1996 Certificate of Appreciation - Rebuilding Railroad Street Bridge, and the 1986 NationalSojourner Meritorious Service Award - Alabama Funeral Directors & Morticians Association.Mrs. Stovall-Tapley was not only a politician and educator, but also a business woman. She owned andoperated Stovall Funeral Home, Inc. until her health declined. Stovall Funeral Home, Inc. is still a family-ownedbusiness serving the Hurtsboro and surrounding communities for 96 years.Cherishing loving memories of her are daughters Kathleen (Sell) Caldwell of Decatur, GA and Audrey StovallBrown of Seale, AL; four step-children, Barbara Howard of Miami, FL, Laura Tapley and Gloria (John) Tapley-Miles of Atlanta, GA and Emil Tapley of Opelika, AL.; five grandchildren Alison (Kateric) Stovall-Quinnie, Royce
Stovall, Noah Caldwell, Sydny Caldwell and Tori Tapley; two great-grandchildren Alexander Stovall andKamden Caldwell; a devoted God son, Jesse James Giddeon and special life-long friend Evelyn Salary; a host ofcousins, nieces, nephews and friends and former students of the Hurtsboro and Russell County, Alabamacommunities. Mrs. Stovall-Tapley was loved by so many that we cannot name them all. Just know that shegenuinely loved and appreciated you all.
What’s your fondest memory of Mary?
What’s a lesson you learned from Mary?
Share a story where Mary's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Mary you’ll never forget.
How did Mary make you smile?